Patients try to look, feel good during tough treatments

Linda Gail McCollum attends a yoga class at the McIntosh Presbyterian Church in McIntosh Tuesday, September 28, 2010. McCollum was diagnosed in November 2009 with breast cancer. Since then, she's had chemo, radiation and is currently going to Shands at the University of Florida every three weeks to receive an infusion of the antibody herceptin. Those treatments end Dec. 13. Through it all, Linda, 67, has continued doing yoga.

For more information, call American Cancer So ciety offices at 376-6866 (Gainesville) or 629-4727 (Ocala).

On the Web

*Look Good ... Feel Bet ter: www.lookgoodfeel better.org

*All About You Women’s Boutique: www.aaywb.com

She'd practice in the spacious living room of her McIntosh home or go to group sessions at a friend's house or at McIntosh Presbyterian Church. Then last year, her exercise routine — and her life — changed.

In September, after a mammogram two months earlier, she noticed a sore spot and a "little lump" near her underarm. A biopsy revealed she tested positive for invasive ductile carcinoma. Her doctor told her she would have to have her breast removed. She got a second opinion. The recommendation was the same: a mastectomy of her left breast.

McCollum, 67, had the surgery Dec. 10 at the University of Florida Shands Cancer Center, followed by six rounds of chemotherapy and radiation five days a week for six weeks. Although she tired more easily and at times it wore her down, she held onto yoga.

"I couldn't keep up with it as I did before, but I tried to go once a week," said McCollum, wife of McIntosh mayor Cary McCollum. "I think that's what I really had going for me — I was in good health and physically fit going in, and I didn't want to change that."

For many breast cancer patients, such as Linda McCollum, it's not easy finding ways to look and feel good during treatments.

In extreme cases, women struggle with the physical and mental trauma of partial or complete breast removal and scaring. There's hair loss, but also changes in skin color and dryness, brittle fingernails and toenails, weight gain and hot flashes.

Dr. Karen Daily, an oncologist who specializes in breast cancer at UF Shands Cancer Center, said many of these symptoms simply have to "fade with time," but exercise and eating right are good starts to coping with the issues.

"Although everyone doesn't feel like exercising while going through chemotherapy, it does help with the weight gain. It helps with any mood-related problems and a little with fatigue," she said. "Any kind of exercise, even walking, that someone can participate in while they're going through chemotherapy, that's helpful."

For five years, cosmetologist Stacy Wyszkowski has helped female cancer patients build their self-esteem and self-confidence through a national program called Look Good ... Feel Better.

Launched in 1989, it's a free program that teaches beauty techniques to women cancer patients in active treatment to help them deal with appearance-related side effects.

In this area, more than 273 women participated in the program last year, according to the American Cancer Society-North Central Area.

Wyszkowski, owner of Profero Hair Studio in Gainesville, teaches the class at The Cancer Center at North Florida Regional Medical Center.

During the class, she guides the women through a 12-step process for skin care, from cleansing to makeup application.

She also teaches them about makeup maintenance and different ways to wear wigs and scarves.

Each participant receives a small tote bag of cosmetic and skin care products donated by cosmetics companies.

"When the women first come, they are reserved and self conscious, but by the end of the class, they're laughing and smiling and asking their husbands to take them to dinner," she said.

She said female cancer patients have to re-teach themselves about makeup during this time in their lives.

"When you are in treatment, your immune system in compromised so you don't want to put the same thing on your lips and face each day because you're putting germs right back into the product, which you don't want," Wyszkowski said.

In Ocala, friends Charla Griffith and Lori Timmreck are working to help breast cancer patients "start to feel whole again" with their business All About You Women's Boutique, 4901 E. Silver Springs Blvd., in Six Gun Plaza.

For almost three years, the store has acted as a one-stop shop for women who have undergone a mastectomy.

Sharing two decades of experience, these days the women notice manufacturers are concerned with function as well as fashion for the patients and survivors.

"I just think they know what these women have gone through, and I think they just realize it's how you feel mentally and emotionally to get better and, of course, if you don't feel like you look good, you're not going to feel better about yourself," Timmreck said. "That's half your battle."

Among the items the store carries are Lindi Skin face and body products, which offer a "protective veil of moisture for lasting hydration." It also carries sleepwear and sheet sets from Wild Bleau made of bamboo moisture-wicking material that pulls moisture away from the body and evaporates it four times faster than cotton.

Linda McCollum used prayer, family support and a blog to get through her surgery and subsequent treatments.

During it all, she tried to focus less on how her body looked and more on fighting the disease.

"A common misconception people have about cancer patients is that they're sick," she said, emphasizing the word "sick." "I don't think of myself as sick. I just have this obstacle to overcome."

<p>Two to three days a week, Linda McCollum had yoga in her life.</p><p>She'd practice in the spacious living room of her McIntosh home or go to group sessions at a friend's house or at McIntosh Presbyterian Church. Then last year, her exercise routine — and her life — changed.</p><p>In September, after a mammogram two months earlier, she noticed a sore spot and a "little lump" near her underarm. A biopsy revealed she tested positive for invasive ductile carcinoma. Her doctor told her she would have to have her breast removed. She got a second opinion. The recommendation was the same: a mastectomy of her left breast.</p><p>McCollum, 67, had the surgery Dec. 10 at the University of Florida Shands Cancer Center, followed by six rounds of chemotherapy and radiation five days a week for six weeks. Although she tired more easily and at times it wore her down, she held onto yoga.</p><p>"I couldn't keep up with it as I did before, but I tried to go once a week," said McCollum, wife of McIntosh mayor Cary McCollum. "I think that's what I really had going for me — I was in good health and physically fit going in, and I didn't want to change that."</p><p>For many breast cancer patients, such as Linda McCollum, it's not easy finding ways to look and feel good during treatments.</p><p>In extreme cases, women struggle with the physical and mental trauma of partial or complete breast removal and scaring. There's hair loss, but also changes in skin color and dryness, brittle fingernails and toenails, weight gain and hot flashes.</p><p>Dr. Karen Daily, an oncologist who specializes in breast cancer at UF Shands Cancer Center, said many of these symptoms simply have to "fade with time," but exercise and eating right are good starts to coping with the issues.</p><p>"Although everyone doesn't feel like exercising while going through chemotherapy, it does help with the weight gain. It helps with any mood-related problems and a little with fatigue," she said. "Any kind of exercise, even walking, that someone can participate in while they're going through chemotherapy, that's helpful."</p><p>For five years, cosmetologist Stacy Wyszkowski has helped female cancer patients build their self-esteem and self-confidence through a national program called Look Good ... Feel Better.</p><p>Launched in 1989, it's a free program that teaches beauty techniques to women cancer patients in active treatment to help them deal with appearance-related side effects.</p><p>In this area, more than 273 women participated in the program last year, according to the American Cancer Society-North Central Area.</p><p>Wyszkowski, owner of Profero Hair Studio in Gainesville, teaches the class at The Cancer Center at North Florida Regional Medical Center.</p><p>During the class, she guides the women through a 12-step process for skin care, from cleansing to makeup application.</p><p>She also teaches them about makeup maintenance and different ways to wear wigs and scarves.</p><p>Each participant receives a small tote bag of cosmetic and skin care products donated by cosmetics companies.</p><p>"When the women first come, they are reserved and self conscious, but by the end of the class, they're laughing and smiling and asking their husbands to take them to dinner," she said.</p><p>She said female cancer patients have to re-teach themselves about makeup during this time in their lives.</p><p>Instead of reapplying makeup the routine way, she recommends buying disposable mascara wands, lip brushes and Q-tips to apply makeup.</p><p>"When you are in treatment, your immune system in compromised so you don't want to put the same thing on your lips and face each day because you're putting germs right back into the product, which you don't want," Wyszkowski said.</p><p>In Ocala, friends Charla Griffith and Lori Timmreck are working to help breast cancer patients "start to feel whole again" with their business All About You Women's Boutique, 4901 E. Silver Springs Blvd., in Six Gun Plaza.</p><p>For almost three years, the store has acted as a one-stop shop for women who have undergone a mastectomy.</p><p>They offer specialized bras, prosthetics, or breast forms, wigs, skin products, lingerie and swimsuits.</p><p>Sharing two decades of experience, these days the women notice manufacturers are concerned with function as well as fashion for the patients and survivors.</p><p>"I just think they know what these women have gone through, and I think they just realize it's how you feel mentally and emotionally to get better and, of course, if you don't feel like you look good, you're not going to feel better about yourself," Timmreck said. "That's half your battle."</p><p>Among the items the store carries are Lindi Skin face and body products, which offer a "protective veil of moisture for lasting hydration." It also carries sleepwear and sheet sets from Wild Bleau made of bamboo moisture-wicking material that pulls moisture away from the body and evaporates it four times faster than cotton.</p><p>Linda McCollum used prayer, family support and a blog to get through her surgery and subsequent treatments.</p><p>During it all, she tried to focus less on how her body looked and more on fighting the disease.</p><p>"A common misconception people have about cancer patients is that they're sick," she said, emphasizing the word "sick." "I don't think of myself as sick. I just have this obstacle to overcome."</p>